2. Lexical categories
In lexical categories (open word & closed word classes) :
every word is a member of a category.
a word‟s category type determines the kind of phrase it can form
a phrase is a word or string of words that functions as a unit in a
sentence, built around a head
Every language has specific phrase structure rules determining
how phrases can be combined to form sentences
3. Semi-lexical categories
In semi-lexical categories :
“Ross (1972, 1973) already argued that the traditional view of
syntactic categories as being discrete elements that can be
rigidly distinguished from one another is incorrect. Instead of a
fixed, discrete inventory of syntactic categories, he proposes a
quasi-continuum, where the distinction between one category
and another one is not discrete, but „squishy,‟ i.e. one of
degree…”
(Corver and van Riemsdijk 2001: 4)
4. Semi-lexical categories
In semi-lexical categories, prepositions are consider a semi-
lexical which means that it has lexical and functional
properties at once.
a. the book on the table
b. John’s reliance on his own ingenuity
In (a) the PP on the table functions as modifier of the non-
relational nominal head table; in this construction the
preposition with its own argument structure.
In (b), PP on his own ingenuity is generally taken to be the
complement of the relational (deverbal) head reliance; in this
construction the prepositions on does not indicate location
and its typically analysed as purely grammatical element,
without argument structure.
5. Semi-lexical categories
..prepositions have their own (typically locative) meaning
whereas grammatical prepositions, lacking semantic content,
are determined by the head noun.
(Huddleston & Pullum, 2002:653ff)
i.e; the prepositions of (which at an early stage lost its
original locative meaning and has since developed a host of
meanings, including geographical origin, possession, part-of,
attribute-of, type-of, quantity-of and depiction-of)
it is acknowledged that of can introduce both complements
and modifiers.
6. a.
i. the sister of Mary
ii. the house of her former husband
iii. the spire of the cathedral
iv. a glass of water
v. the death of the emperor
vi. the conquest of Persia
b.
i. the wines of France
ii. a man of honour
iii. a girl of a sunny disposition
iv. a boy of sixteen
v. a frame of steel
vi. a matter of no importance
In (a), of-PPs regarded as complements and in (b), taken to
function as modifiers.